Clara Adams, a sophomore at North Salinas High, achieved the fastest time in the girls' 400-meter finals at the CIF State Track & Field Finals but was disqualified due to using a fire extinguisher to spray her cleats post-race. Despite her victory, officials deemed her actions unsportsmanlike. Clara expressed feelings of being robbed of her first state title, and her father shared her emotional struggle after watching other competitors receive awards. Clara has been running competitively since a young age, showing dedication to the sport despite this setback.
I was robbed," Adams, 16, told The Times shortly after being disqualified from that event as well the 200 finals, which took place later in the meet.
I was having fun," Adams said, noting her win in the 400 marked her first state title. "I'd never won something like that before, and they took it away from me.
Clara's hurt. She's hurt right now," David Adams said Wednesday. "She's better today than Saturday. Saturday was fresh. It just happened. It was a shock.
They made her sit there and watch while they put those other girls on the podium, knowing Clara's the fastest 400-meter runner in the state of California.
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